I watched Rachel Maddow last night discuss the Values Voters Summit last night, and the little tune, "Why Should God Bless America?" sung by that wonderful choir caught my ear. Putting aside the pathetic and painful attempt of wit with their choice of lyrics for a moment, there was a sense of familiarity with what they were directly stating and attempting to portray.
As Adept2u outlined in his diary, the Values Voters' hypocrisy really cannot be overlooked. But I wanted to examine a little closer a correlation between what they said in their song and what the Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church have preached in one of their lovely songs. First the lyrics from the Values Voters Summit:
Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back
On everything that made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sin and heal our land
The courts ruled prayer out of our schools
In June of ‘62
Told the children "you are your own God now
So you can make the rules"
O say can you see what that choice
Has cost us to this day
America, one nation under God, has gone astray
Why should God bless America?
Shes’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land
In ‘73 the Courts said we
Could take the unborn lives
The choice is yours don’t worry now
It’s not a wrong, it’s your right
But just because they made it law
Does not change God’s command
The most that we can hope for is
God’s mercy on our land
Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land
(Reading from 2nd Chronicles 7:14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land
God have mercy on America forgive her sins and heal our land
Nice.
But let's compare this to some of the heartfelt words of the Phelps from Westboro with their song entitled, "God Hates the World.":
You've crossed the line
you won't heed this final call
Evil world you've come together as one
see your soldiers dying
Oh you claim God's blessing you
that lie the greatest lie of all
you can't go on
pretending day by day
that the God of judgment is dead and gone
you are all a part of
the devil's family
and the truth
you're all headed straigh to hell!
God hates the world
and all her people
you every one face a fiery day for your proud sinning
it's too late to change his mind
you lived out your vain lives
storing up God's wrath for all eternity!
[solo]
Well, you knew God's law
but you disobeyed it all
spent your lives
chasing your lust and lies
[everyone]
serving all your idols
fag beasts and bloody flags
fires of hell are waiting there for you
[deranged chorus with deranged echos]
God hates the world
(you know He hates you)
and all her people
(evil people)
you every one face a fiery day for your proud sinning
(so just stop it)
it's too late to change his mind
you lived out your vain lives
storing up God's wrath for all eternity!
His prophets came standing in His place
Your violent ways, you cursed Him to His face
[solo]
well, well, well, You will soon realize
your destruction draweth nigh
you will all stand together and fall
[lively chorus!]
God hates the world
and all her people
you every one face a fiery day for your proud sinning
it's too late to change his mind
you lived out your vain lives
storing up God's wrath for all eternity!
God hates the world
(He hates you!)
and all her people
(That means you!)
you every one face a fiery day for your proud sinning
(Just obey Him!)
it's too late to change his mind
you lived out your vain lives
storing up God's wrath for all eternity!
you'll eat your kids
(yeah, you'll eat 'em)
you hateful people!
(the SIEGE is coming!)
you every one face a fiery day for your proud sinning
(PROUD SINNERS!)
it's too late to change his mind
you lived out your vain lives
storing up God's wrath for all eternity!
[chorus with swaying]
God hates the world and all her people
you every one face a fiery day for your proud sinning
it's too late to change his mind
you lived out your vain lives
storing up God's wrath for all eternity!
I dunno. Perhaps it's not quite there yet, but those Values Voters are getting pretty damn close. I just think they need to stop beating around the bush and invite Shirley Phelps-Roper as their keynote speaker next year.